Motor-tractor.



H. G. SHOEMAKER.

MOTOR TRACTOR. 7 APPLICATION nun 110v. 21. 1910.

Patented Dec. 19,1911.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

H. U. SHOEMAKER'.

MOTOR TBAGTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 110v. 21, 1910.

Patented 1m 19,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. G. SHOBMAKBR.

mo'ron TRACTOR. APPLIGATIOH 'IILBD 110V. 21. 1910.

1,012,458. Patented Dec. 19,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Sum: 11 foz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. SHOEMAKER. OF HUTCHINSON. KANSAS. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE E. SHOE-MAKER AND ONE-THIRD TO JOHN H. GREIDER. OF FREEPORT ILLINOIS.

MOTOR-TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 21, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Tractors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in motor tractors, and the objects of my inven tion are to concentrate the applied power to as small a tractive surface as possible, and to turn the machine in the smallest possible space, at the same time utilizing the factor of speed to gain power on the driving whorls by the step down transmission.

Further objects of my invention are to make a tractor for general use, of comparatively small cost, easy in operation, requiring only one man to operate it, of low fuel consumption, and light weight. It is espe cially designed for plowiiig, but can be used for any tractive purpose.

lVith these objects in view, my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the acompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side view 0 one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side-view of the same, parts being broken away, and other parts shown in section. Figs. 4. 5, and 6 illustrate, on a larger scale, various details of the clutch mechanism and operating means therefor.

(L represents a gasolene engine of the usual or any desired type,. ,sho\vn in the drawin as a four cylinder, four cycle motor. T is engine i s mounted uponla frame 3, centrally located in the front part of the machine, and this frame in turn is mounted in a larger frame b,,both of these frames being rectangular in shape.

1 represents the driving wheels, provided 1 with the usual teeth or ribs on their exte- HARRY C. Srion-I 1 l, l l E of the radiator 37.

-e. At its rear end,

rior, which wheels are revolubly mounted on stub shafts such as 4, located between the frames 3 and I) on each side of the former. Mounted on the front of the frame 3 is a radiator 37, which connects by means of a pipe c with the engine in the usual manner, 38 representing a fuel tank a'rrangcd. in the usual way. to supply fuel to the engine.

43 is a pulley carried by the shaft driven by the engine and mounted just in front and adapted, when desired. to drive a fan blower (not shown) to keep the radiator 37 cool.

Attached to the frame I) are paired rods 9. slanting toward each other and supporting a casting T. a pair of said rods being used at each side of the frame I). The casting 7 has a pair of projections in at each end. and on the outside of the frame I) are provided on each side a pair of projections and the rods 9 are firmly held, one in each of the projections m and a. Projecting upwardly from the center of said casting 7 is the hollow journal 8 through which A beam having a mounted on the ourclutches and valves. head 5* is pivotally nal 8.

Supported semicircular loop 6, lower part of the beam 5 to the frame 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this loop extends first forwardly. then rearwardly, and also downwardly and outwardly from the frame I). It is supported and braced in any desired manner, such as by the braces 44. Supported by the semicircular loopti, is a chain 12', the end links of which are fastened to eye bolts 45, by means of which said chain may be tightened up.

d represents a shaft, driven by the engine ,a, and which carries at one end the pulley 43, already mentioned, and which is also provided with a fly wheel this shaft is provided 10, as shown by the frame-b is a nearly which connects the with a beveled gear pinion which is directly in Fig. 3, which meshes with a similar larger gear wheel, shown at f in dotted lines in Fig. 2, said gear wheel f being the edly mounted upon the jack shaft 11. This jack shaft near each end is provided with sprocket wheels g, and sprocket chains it run from the gear wheels 9 to sprocket wheels 2', revolubly mounted on the shafts 4., and fixed to the wheels 1 so that the revolution of the jack shafts will operate the wheels 1.

On the jack shaft 11 is mounted a differential gear 42, which may be of any desired or well known type. 011 the same shaft is mounted a low gear clutch 39 and a reverse gear clutch 40. The clutch is operated by means of a lever 26, having an ordinary spring-actuated catch 0, and to this lever is connected a cord 25. This cord passes over a pulley carried by the bent bracket 19 bolted to the top of the beam 5. The cord 25 then passes down-through the hollow journal 8 and extends out to the clutch 39. Similarly, the clutch 40 is operated by a lever 28, having a springoperated stop, by means of a cord 27, which similarly passes over a pulley on the bent bracket 19 and down to the clutch 40. Supportcdby the beam 5 and pivotally mounted on a bracket thereon, is another lever 30, which operates a cable 29. This cable passes over a pulley on the bracket 19 and then passes down and operates the direct high speed clutch 41, shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2. From this, it will be seen that by the proper manipulation of the levers 26, 28, and 30 a high or low differential or reverse speed may be imparted to the shaft 11 and hence to the wheels 1.

Mounted in hearings on the curved beam 5 is a steering rod 17, having a steering wheel 18 fixed to its upper end. A sleeve is loosely mounted on said rod just beneath the wheel 18, and carries a lever 24, which actuates the throttle rod or link 23. The other end of this link is pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank lever :22, which is pivotally mounted on the bent bracket 19, and to the other end of this lever is pivotally attached the throttle rod 32 for controlling the action of the engine, in the usual way. The lower part of the curved beam 5 is bent forwardly, as shown at 72, and the forward end terminates in a fork. as shown at 9. Within the front part of this fork, the sen'=" "cular' loop 6 is adapted to revolve, and the outer part of this loop, as shown in Fig. 3, is T-shaped and is confined in position within the fork by the rollers 36, mounted on pins 1' fastened in the front ends of said fork.

Loosely mounted within the fork q at about its center, is a pin or rod .9, and keyed to this pin is a pulley 13, over which the chain 12 passes, the face of the pulley being provided with depressions into which the. links of the chain fit. On this rod 8 and outside of the loop is also mounted a worm wheel 11, which is driven by a worm 15, mounted in projections made integral with or attached to the fork Q. The worm 15 is operated by means of beveled gears 16, one carried by the shaft of said worm and the other by the steering rod 17, from which construction it results that. the movement of the wheel 18 will swing the chain 12 and loop (3 in-the are of a circle, thereby guiding the tractor.

The steering rod 17, as shown in Fig. 1, is supported in three brackets on the beam 30 5, and to this beam is also affixed a triangular brace t, on which are mounted springs a, carrying a seat 4) in which the operator sits.

The rear wheels'2 are mounted on axles 35 33, one for each wheel. The inner ends of these axles engage in slots 50 in cylindrical extensions 51 of a sleeve 52, any suitable means (not shown) being employed to prevent said axles from becoming disengaged from the slots in the extensions 51. The rear end of the beam 5 is provided with a cylindrical shoulder 53', and in the rear of said shoulder with a cylindrical extension terminating in flattened portions 55, provided with holes 56. through which a chain, for example,- may be attached for drawing anything that it desired to move. The cylindrical portion 5% of the beam is also provided with a circular groove 57 for a purpose hereinafter specified. Ordinarily, the slceve 52 is freely mountcd on the part 51 of the beam 5, so that it can rotate thereon so that the wheels 2 may be in a different plane from the wheels 1, which is very advantageous on rough ground. To prevent this sleeve 52 from slipping off from the part 5th. collar is provided, removably fastened to the part 51 by any suitable means, not shown. The front part of the sleeve 52 is toothed, as shown at- 59. Mounted so as to freely rotate on the part 54, is a collar 10, having a cam face, as indicated at ($1. Coat-ting with this collar is another collar 62, having a cam face. ()3 represents a third collar, provided with teeth (5%, adapted, when moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 4, to engage the teeth 59 on the sleeve 52.

65 represents a spline, which permits the part 63 to slide freely on the part 54, but prevents its rotation thereon, and (S6 represents one of a series of dowels, which secure the collars 62 and 63 together.

47 represents a sliding cam follower, mounted in hearings in the fork q and having a-roller 67, mounted on its upper end, which follower is bent upwardly at its forward end, as shown in Fig. 3. The cam follower 4-7 is pivotally attached to the lower 130 arm 68 of a bell crank lever, see Fig. 6, which is pivoted at 69 on the sleeve 52. The other arm 70 of this bell prank lever is connected to a link 71, which in turn is connected to a link 72, and this link is pivot-ally connected'with a part 73 on a pin 74, pro jecting from the collar 60. By this connection, motion is imparted to the pin 74., allowing a circular motion about the part 54 and a movement with relation to the bell crank. The parts 62 and 63 are preferably made of cast steel to prevent wear.

To keep the sleeve 52 in proper relation to the part 54, that is to say, allowing it to rotate thereon 'but not to slide thereon, one or more pins 75 are driven through holes in the sleeve 52 into the groove 57.

The loop 6 is provided with cams 46, located aboutopposite the wheels 1. If, however, the driving wheels are turned so that they are substantially at right angles to the rear wheels, the frame dn which the engine is located will tend to rotate about the axis of the driving wheels and the bearing, already described, on the rear axles. Hence a locking device is necessary, and this device has just been described.

The loop 6 is provided with cams 46, which, when the main frame is rotated to such an extent that the wheels 1 are about at right angles to the wheels 2, engage the roller 67 on the cam follower 47 and rotate the collar 60, forcing the collars 62 and 63 to the rear from the position shown in Fig. 4, the teeth 64 being interlocked with the teeth 59. This looks the sleeve 52 and thereby the rear axles to the draft beam 5, prevcntingthe relative mobility of the frontand rear shafts and wheels mounted thereon, which is of great value in the ordinary operatiorwof the machine, but which must be prevented in making very sharp turns. It is thought that the remainder of the operation will be undepstood from the foregoing description.

The follower 47 may be restored to its original position after the roller 67 has become disengaged from the cams 46 in any suitable way, as by a spring (not shown) acting on the rod 47, or by hand.

I claim 1. In a motor tractor, the combination ofa supporting framework, driving mechanism and driving wheels supported thereby, a curved loop supported by said framework, a casting supported centrally above said driving wheels and having at its center a hollow journal, inclined braces connected to said framework and to said casting and supporting the latter, a bent draft beam having its front end pivotally mounted on said journal, said draft beam having two oppositely extending divisions on its lower end, the forward division being forked and providecl With IOllGIS adapted t sunnnvt one edge of said loop, means carried by said draft beam for moving said loop and guiding the machine, a pair of wheels supported on the rear end of said draft beam, and a seat supported above said rear wheels, substantially as described.

2. In a motor tractor, the combination of a supporting framework, driving mechas uism mounted centrally thereon, driving wheels mounted thereon and located outside of said driving mechanism, a casting supported centrally above said driving, wheels and having a central hollow journal, inclined braces connected to said framework and to said casting and supporting the lat ter, a bent draft beam having its front end pivotally mounted on said journal, a loop carried beneath said framework, a chain carried by said loop, the lower end of said draft beam being separated into two divisions, the front division being forked,rollers carried by said fork and engaging the edge of said loop, a wheel with indentations in its periphery engaging said chain, a steering wheel and rod mounted on said draft beam, and connections between said rod and the wheel over which said chain passes, wherebya supporting framework, driving devices mounted centrally thereon, driving wheels mounted on said framework outside of said driving mechanism, connections between said driving mechanism and said wheels, whereby' the latter are operated, a casting supported centrally above said wheels and provided with a central hollow journal, inclined braces connected to said framework and said casting and supporting the latter, a draft beam having its front end pivotally supported on said journal, an approximately semicircular loop carried by said frame work, a chain carried by said loop, said draft beam having its lower end divided into two parts, the front part being forked, rollerscarried by the front part of this fork and engaging the edge of said semicircular loop, a wheel rotatably mounted between said loop and the chain and provided with indentations with which the links of said, chain engage, a steering. wheel and rod mounted on said draft beam, connections between said rod and the wheel over which said chain passes, whereby the movement of the steering wheel will operate said chain and thereby'guide the machine, and devices connected to said steering rod for operating the driving mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a motor tractor, the combination of a supporting framework, an engine mounted centrally thereon, driving Wheels supported bv said framework and located one on each side of said engine, a casting supported centrally above said driving wheels and provided with a hollow journal at its center,

inclined'braces attached to said framework and to said casting and supporting the latter, a bent draft beam having its front end pivotally mounted on said journal, a semicircular loop and chain carried thereby, a steering rod and wheel, said rod being mounted on said draft beam, connections whereby the movement of said steering wheel will move said chain and thereby guide the machine, the rear end of said draft beam being made cylindrical, a sleeve normally free to revolve on the cylindrical lower rear end of the draft beam, a pair of rear wheels supported by said sleeve, and means for locking said sleeve on said beam, so that it will not rotate thereon, substantially as described.

5. In a motor tractor, the combination of a supporting framework, an engine mounted centrally thereon, a pair of driving wheels carried by said framework and located one on each side of said engine, connections between said engine and said driving wheels, 11 semicircular loop carried by said framework, a casting located centrally above said driving wheels and having a hollow journal at its center, inclined braces attached to said framework and to said casting at each end thereof, a bent draft beam having its front end pivotally mounted on said journal, means mounted on said draft beam for shifting the position of said loop and thereby guiding, the machine, said loop being provided with cams, the lower rear end of said draft beam being made cylindrical, a sleeve mounted so as to normally revolve freely on the lower rear end of said draft beam, said sleeve having its front end provided with a clutch face, a pair of wheels supported by said sleeve, a movable sleeve having a clutch face mounted so as to slide on the lower rear portion of the draft beam,

' and devices to operate said sleeve to make its clutch face engage with the clutch face of said first named sleeve, said devices being brought into operation by the cams on said loop, substantially as described.

6. In a motor tractor, the combination of a supporting framework, an engine, a fuel tank, and a radiator mounted thereon, driving wheels also mounted thereon and located on either side of said engine, connections between said engine and said driving wheels, whereby the latter may be driven at high speeds, low speeds, or reversely, a casting provided with a central hollow journal and located centrally above said driving wheels, inclined braces fastened to sai framework and to said casting at each end,

i a downwardly bent draft beam having its front end pivotally mounted on said hollow 7 journal, a steering rod and wheel mounted on said draft bean, means carried by said draft beam for varying the speeds at which the driving wheels are driven, a semicircular loop carried by said framework and provided with cams near each end thereof and with a chain on the outside thereof, said draft beam being divided into two parts at its lower end, the forwardly extending part terminating in a fork, rollers carried by said fork, engaging said loop, a wheel with a roughened periphery engaging said chain, connections between said last named wheel and said steering wheel, the lower horizontal rear end of said draft beam bein made cylindrical, a sleeve carried by sald cylindrical portion, and havinga clutch face on one end, rear wheels rotatably supported by said sleeve, a second sleeve having a clutch face and adapted to slide on the lower cylindrical end of the draft beam, cam faced sleeves for operating said second named sleeve, a bell crank lever for operating one of said cam faced sleeves, and a rod provided with a roller on one end, said rod being connected at the other end to said bell crank lever, and said roller being operated by the cams on said loop, substantially as described.

7. In a motor tractor, the combination of a main frame, a subordinate frame carried thereby, an engine mounted on said second frame, driving wheels located on either side of said engine and supporting said frames, a casting having a hollow ournal in its center, said casting being supported centrally above said driving wheels, inclined braces attached to said main frame and said casting for supporting the latter, a bent draft beam pivotally mounted on said journal and extending downwardly then rearwardly in a plane below said frames, an axle pivotally mounted on the rear end of said draft beam, wheels on the axle, a curved loop supported by the main frame, a flexible means having its ends secured to said loop, and devices for moving said flexible means in either direction, thereby moving said frame and guiding the machine, substantially as described.

8. In a motor tractor, the combination of a supporting framework, an engine carried by the framework, driving wheels supported by said framework and located near each side of said engine, a casting supported centrally above said driving wheels and provided with a hollow journal at its center, inclined braces attached to said framework and to said casting for supporting the latter, a bent draft beam having its fr nt end pivotally mounted on said journal d extending downwardly then rearwaro ly in a plane below said framework, rear wheels pivotally supportedon the rear end of said draft beam, :1 semi-circular loop connected to said framework, a chain having its ends attached to .said loop, devices for moving said chain in either direction to rotate the In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY o. SHOEMAKER.

Witnesses CARR W. TAYLOR, J. S. Hone. 

